Jonathan Steele is right to say that the French Socialist internal party vote on the EU constitution raised the level of debate there (In France they know how to turn fantasy into reality, December 3). The fact that after that debate - despite media support for the yes side and strong yes campaigning from senior politicians from various countries - over 40% of party members voted to reject it, will give heart to those of us on the left who will campaign for a no in the UK. Progressives in Britain are constantly attacked for arguing that the EU constitution is a bad deal. The Euro-obsessives claim that we are the only socialists in Europe arguing against this constitution - but it is patently not true. Substantial numbers of voters on the left in Europe see the constitution as a neo-liberal step in the wrong direction. Across the EU, grassroots progressives are leading campaigns and speaking out against the imposition of this constitution. France confirms that, and will give confidence to no campaigners here.
Ian Davidson MP Chair, Centre for a Social Europe

In your leader (December 3) on the French Socialists' yes vote, you wrote that the EU constitution "does not give a significantly bigger role to Brussels". This is not the view of the rest of Europe. Indeed, the EU is given a bigger role in almost every aspect of existing EU competence, as well as extending that competence to new areas of policy. The final text includes a legally binding charter of fundamental rights, an EU foreign minister, and new moves to "coordinate" member states' economic, social, crime and trade policies. Apart from undoubtedly handing further power to Brussels, the EU constitution fails to reform a system that is undemocratic, inefficient and economically stagnant.Lorraine Mullally Researcher, Vote No

While the issue of whether Europe should be more "social" or "neo-liberal Anglo-Saxon" was clearly of great interest and importance to the 120,000 who voted in the referendum, the problem of moving this debate beyond the politically committed to the Euro-apathetic population at large is at least as great, here in France, as it is in the UK. Cynicism about the whole political process is widespread and the situation is arguably worse in France because, for all its faults, the British media does still present a wider spectrum of opinion than is available across the channel.Michael Sheahan Paris, France